Outside of Some Velvet Morning, I haven't seen a lot of TV episodes, or films, which almost completely focus on the relationship between two characters. Even with shows which are 24 episodes per season and within their 3rd or even 6th season there is always a distraction, or only a moment shared, never what feels like an overview, and the possible future, of a relationship within one episode. Which, to me, is what we are given as Bill and Virginia explore their faux marriage.
Topic 1: "Better a Tomboy Than a Sissy" - Bill
As you watch Bill argue with a man whose son was born with a vagina and a penis, things are setup to show the importance of masculinity, as well as how desirable the trait is over femininity. And while Bill, as always, argues on behalf of his patient, I think this baby, incapable of making decisions itself, really finds one of his soft spots. A place where he sees the challenges the world, and especially his father, presented him when it came to his discovery of what masculinity is, and how to obtain it in such a way that it was undeniable to others.
Topic 2: What Made Me The Main I Am – Bill & Virginia
Going deeper, it has long been established Bill's father Francis was both physically and emotionally abusive. And while certainly not through ideal methods, through the hardships Francis presented Bill he learned how to be a man. To be someone who absorbed pain and never spoke on it, to be someone who never asked for mercy, and someone who knew how to fight in order to show dominance. All of which as he speaks begins to show signs of his vulnerability. Something Virginia has seen before, and like whenever he has opened himself to her he ruins the moment.
For with him showing his vulnerabilities, or feminine side if you will, he shows his need to reassert his position as a man. He takes Virginia's clothes off and looks at her, treats her like a sexual object; he asks for reinforcement when it comes to her seeing him as sexually viable; and being that Virginia isn't much for the male ego, she decides to instead masturbate then stroke Bill's ego. Making it so she not only asserts herself in their relationship, but also reminds Bill she will not tolerate being someone he opens up to, rejects, and then tries to use as a sex doll to remind himself he is the man his father made him to be. For, as she says, what makes Virginia attracted to Bill are their conversations and the fact she feels like an equal with him. Something which constantly, in terms of their relationship, needs fixing. For while Bill will show up at her doorstep in the middle of the night needing her, he will just as much dismiss their relationship and dare not consider it an affair. Perhaps a line he learned from his father?
Topic 3: A Fantasy With No End – Bill & Virginia
Speaking of their affair, it remains under this guise of that what looks like an affair is all for the sex study. Then, as for them being Mr. and Mrs. Holden, we are left under the impression that part of the reason for role-playing is to see how it affects them having sex. And throughout this episode you can see analogies and hints dropped throughout them developing their made up characters. For with pretending to be married, to a great extent, you can see both are exploring what it would really like to be in an actual relationship with the other. For whether it is Bill opening up about his dad, him mentioning the idea of a child in their fake relationship, how love can be like a boxing match, and many other things, you can see their intimacy is growing. Almost to the point neither is fully sure what they are doing anymore. And while Bill often seems like he is in it for just the sex, as Virginia tells a possible fictional story in which she learned to keep her heart protected, he asks about their fictional marriage and what it says about them that she keeps her heart locked away. Then, on Virginia's side of things, you can see she is very much in love with playing Bill's wife up until she sees his wedding ring. Then, the fantasy becomes less vivid and with Bill asking for a kiss from his faux wife, she feels the need to remind herself the reality is that he isn't hers and she can't be his right now. After all, they have to sneak to a far off hotel just to be intimate.
Topic 1: "Better a Tomboy Than a Sissy" - Bill
As you watch Bill argue with a man whose son was born with a vagina and a penis, things are setup to show the importance of masculinity, as well as how desirable the trait is over femininity. And while Bill, as always, argues on behalf of his patient, I think this baby, incapable of making decisions itself, really finds one of his soft spots. A place where he sees the challenges the world, and especially his father, presented him when it came to his discovery of what masculinity is, and how to obtain it in such a way that it was undeniable to others.
Topic 2: What Made Me The Main I Am – Bill & Virginia
Going deeper, it has long been established Bill's father Francis was both physically and emotionally abusive. And while certainly not through ideal methods, through the hardships Francis presented Bill he learned how to be a man. To be someone who absorbed pain and never spoke on it, to be someone who never asked for mercy, and someone who knew how to fight in order to show dominance. All of which as he speaks begins to show signs of his vulnerability. Something Virginia has seen before, and like whenever he has opened himself to her he ruins the moment.
For with him showing his vulnerabilities, or feminine side if you will, he shows his need to reassert his position as a man. He takes Virginia's clothes off and looks at her, treats her like a sexual object; he asks for reinforcement when it comes to her seeing him as sexually viable; and being that Virginia isn't much for the male ego, she decides to instead masturbate then stroke Bill's ego. Making it so she not only asserts herself in their relationship, but also reminds Bill she will not tolerate being someone he opens up to, rejects, and then tries to use as a sex doll to remind himself he is the man his father made him to be. For, as she says, what makes Virginia attracted to Bill are their conversations and the fact she feels like an equal with him. Something which constantly, in terms of their relationship, needs fixing. For while Bill will show up at her doorstep in the middle of the night needing her, he will just as much dismiss their relationship and dare not consider it an affair. Perhaps a line he learned from his father?
Topic 3: A Fantasy With No End – Bill & Virginia
Speaking of their affair, it remains under this guise of that what looks like an affair is all for the sex study. Then, as for them being Mr. and Mrs. Holden, we are left under the impression that part of the reason for role-playing is to see how it affects them having sex. And throughout this episode you can see analogies and hints dropped throughout them developing their made up characters. For with pretending to be married, to a great extent, you can see both are exploring what it would really like to be in an actual relationship with the other. For whether it is Bill opening up about his dad, him mentioning the idea of a child in their fake relationship, how love can be like a boxing match, and many other things, you can see their intimacy is growing. Almost to the point neither is fully sure what they are doing anymore. And while Bill often seems like he is in it for just the sex, as Virginia tells a possible fictional story in which she learned to keep her heart protected, he asks about their fictional marriage and what it says about them that she keeps her heart locked away. Then, on Virginia's side of things, you can see she is very much in love with playing Bill's wife up until she sees his wedding ring. Then, the fantasy becomes less vivid and with Bill asking for a kiss from his faux wife, she feels the need to remind herself the reality is that he isn't hers and she can't be his right now. After all, they have to sneak to a far off hotel just to be intimate.
